One Less Detective

Nothing in this book will surprise police officers and ex-police officers. Looking for a new challenge and a job in a disciplined organisation where she could serve her community, Olivia Gray left a well-paid career and joined the police, on a fast-track programme to become a detective. She expected an organisation that aligned with her values, a job with real purpose, comprehensive training, the support needed to give her the knowledge to apply her life skills and do her best in a risk-filled job, and working as a team where people have each other's backs; the reality couldn't have been more different. Olivia shares stories of disturbing behaviour during five months at Police Training School, the incidents and investigations she dealt with during her six months as a frontline police constable. As well as cases she managed during her six months as a trainee detective constable. In this professional confessional memoir, covering Olivia's 18 months as a trainee police officer, she reflects on what she learnt, from what turned out to be an incredibly isolating job, while recollecting her own adverse childhood experiences – experiences that she believes helped her to be an empathetic police officer. You will meet some of the challenging characters Olivia endured, both police and the public, and gain an insight into the 'let them sink or swim' approach to new recruits. An approach that created a dysfunctional working environment, chaos, inconsistency, a lack of support, bitching, isolation for new officers, as well as chronic stress, and illness for many. Despite her determination to stay in a new career that had held so much promise, the dysfunction begins to take its toll. And Olivia has a difficult decision to make: stay in a job she loves, but is damaging her health, or walk away. The fact that many of the issues revealed in this book have been going on for decades should concern the public. Or at least help them to respect, and better understand, the pressures on frontline policing in the UK.